State-Wise Dolphin Population in India: A Detailed Overview

Rivers in India are home to a large number of river dolphins. These dolphins live in the Ganges, Brahmin and Megna river systems and their smaller rivers. Their habitats are spread across multiple Indian countries, making it an important part of the country’s freshwater ecosystem.

A recent large survey (for the first time) provides an estimate of the total number of dolphins in the Indus. According to the study results, there are about 6,327 dolphins in these river basins. The survey begins with a detailed introduction to the status of these rare aquatic mammals in the country.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) launched the Dolphin Project in 2020 to protect dolphins in India. A comprehensive survey was conducted between 2021 and 2023 in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the forest sectors of various states. The extensive survey covers 28 rivers in eight states with a total distance of 8,507 kilometers.

These findings highlight the importance of targeted conservation efforts in protecting and protecting dolphin habitats, especially in areas with severely low populations. These animals play a crucial role in maintaining the health of river ecosystems and act as biological guides, meaning their presence indicates a clean, balanced environment.

India is home to two kinds of freshwater dolphins:

  • Platanista gangetica
  • Platanista Minor

Both species are classified as endangered due to threats such as habitat destruction, water pollution and accidental entanglement in fishing nets. They are also protected by Schedule I (Protection) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection for India.

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List of the most dolphin-popular Indian states

The survey shows that there are 6,327 river dolphins in India. This number includes 6,324 Ganges dolphins and 3 Indian dolphins. The states of Ganges dolphins are distributed as follows:

state

Dolphin population

Uttar Pradesh

2,397

Bihar

2,220

West Bengal

815

Assam

635

Jharkand

162

Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

95

Punjab

3